calfire aircraft response memo
DESCRIPTION
CAL FIRE Aircraft Response MemoTRANSCRIPT
State of California Natural Resources Agency
Memorandum
To Deputy Director Fire Protection Date August 192011 Region Chiefs Assistant Deputy Director Cooperation Training amp Telephone (916) 653-7772
Safety Assistant Region Chiefs Website wwwfirecagov Unit Chiefs Staff Chiefs
From KEN PIMLO Director California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Subject CAL FIRE Aircraft Response Guidelines
In light of the reduction of federal air tankers it is expected that there will be an increased reliance on State of California aircraft throughout California and adjoining states As a result all CAL FIRE personnel will follow the process listed below when addressing competing resource requests
In-State Response
CAL FIRE will continue to follow the procedures outlined in the Cooperative Fire Management Agreement (CFMA) the Geographic Area Operating Plans and the SubshyGeographic Operating Plans the California Mobilization Guide and the California Area Aviation Preparedness Guidelines with the following exceptions
bull CAL FIRE will dispatch air tankers on initial attack (IA) in accordance with existing agreements and per the California Mobilization Guide under the closest forces concept If a federal incident requires load and return of CAL FIRE air tankers or additional CAL FIRE air tankers are ordered for the incident the Federal GACC will order federal air tankers(s) from the other California GACC or through NICC as appropriate to replace CAL FIRE IA air tankers CAL FIRE air tankers should NOT be considered as a replacement for federal aircraft on extended attack or major Federal incidents in California
bull Any commitment of 4 air tankers or more to any incident (federal state or local government) will require Region Duty Chief notification
bull The Region Duty Chief must evaluate Region IA capabilityactivity values at risk (threat to life property) threat to SRA lands (including SRA within federal DPA) and proximity to DPA (FRA SRA LRA) boundary
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Aircraft Response Guidelines Memo August 19 2011 Page Two
bull The Region Duty Chief shall revisit the use of CAL FIRE air tankers on federal incidents with hisher federal Duty Chief counterpart at least every hour throughout the incident and consider the following
o Has a federal air tanker request been filleden-route o Updated evaluation of Region IA capabilityactivity values at risk (threat to
life property) threat to SRA lands (including SRA within federal DPA) and proximity to DPA boundary
o If necessary the CAL FIRE Region Duty Chief may deny the request for continued use of CAL FIRE air tankers if CAL FIRE IA capability is compromised
bull Requests for more than 4 CAL FIRE air tankers on a federal incident require Region Duty Chief approval
bull CAL FIRE reserves the right to deny a request for use of CAL FIRE aircraft based on CAL FIRE need to maintain effective initial attack capability and support CAL FIRE extended attack or major incidents
Out of State Requests
bull Same criteria as In-State with the following additional restrictions
o IA response limited to 25 nautical miles and for no more than 1 ATGS 2 Air Tankers
o Requires Region Duty ChiefRegion Chief Notification o Requests greater than 25 nautical miles require Region Chief approval o Requests for diverts to new incidents or additional IA dispatches within a
25 nautical mile radius require Region Duty Chief approval o Requests for additional CAL FIRE aircraft (3 air tankers or more) require
Director approval
cc Crawford Tuttle Janet Barentson Tonya Hoover Janet Upton Sacramento Duty Chief Notification List
PLEASE REMEMBER TO CONSERVE ENERGY FOR TIPS AND INFORMATION VISIT FLEX YOUR POWER AT WWWCAGOV
Aircraft Response Guidelines Memo August 19 2011 Page Two
bull The Region Duty Chief shall revisit the use of CAL FIRE air tankers on federal incidents with hisher federal Duty Chief counterpart at least every hour throughout the incident and consider the following
o Has a federal air tanker request been filleden-route o Updated evaluation of Region IA capabilityactivity values at risk (threat to
life property) threat to SRA lands (including SRA within federal DPA) and proximity to DPA boundary
o If necessary the CAL FIRE Region Duty Chief may deny the request for continued use of CAL FIRE air tankers if CAL FIRE IA capability is compromised
bull Requests for more than 4 CAL FIRE air tankers on a federal incident require Region Duty Chief approval
bull CAL FIRE reserves the right to deny a request for use of CAL FIRE aircraft based on CAL FIRE need to maintain effective initial attack capability and support CAL FIRE extended attack or major incidents
Out of State Requests
bull Same criteria as In-State with the following additional restrictions
o IA response limited to 25 nautical miles and for no more than 1 ATGS 2 Air Tankers
o Requires Region Duty ChiefRegion Chief Notification o Requests greater than 25 nautical miles require Region Chief approval o Requests for diverts to new incidents or additional IA dispatches within a
25 nautical mile radius require Region Duty Chief approval o Requests for additional CAL FIRE aircraft (3 air tankers or more) require
Director approval
cc Crawford Tuttle Janet Barentson Tonya Hoover Janet Upton Sacramento Duty Chief Notification List
PLEASE REMEMBER TO CONSERVE ENERGY FOR TIPS AND INFORMATION VISIT FLEX YOUR POWER AT WWWCAGOV